Photo courtesy – Jack Moreh/Freerange Stock

From News Desk

Expanded ESG disclosure requirements and sustainability reporting expectations introduced by the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) are increasing pressure on listed companies and financial institutions across the Gulf to strengthen climate reporting, governance and disclosure capability.

Combined with the UAE’s broader sustainability and energy transition agenda following COP28, the region is moving rapidly toward more structured and standards-aligned sustainability disclosure practices.

Climate Change Response (CCR) has established operations in Dubai to support organisations across the UAE and broader GCC market navigating evolving climate reporting and ESG disclosure expectations.

The SCA’s ESG disclosure guidelines apply to UAE-listed companies and establish reporting expectations aligned with international sustainability frameworks. ADGM has separately introduced sustainability disclosure requirements for financial institutions operating within its jurisdiction.

For many organisations, the practical challenge is significant. Voluntary, narrative-based sustainability communications are increasingly insufficient against quantitative, framework-aligned disclosure expectations requiring emissions data, governance accountability, climate risk assessment, and structured reporting processes.

Regional lenders, sovereign investors and financial institutions are also increasing scrutiny around climate disclosures, governance maturity, and transition-related reporting capability.